About Me

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

The following is just my own notes, but thought the info might be useful to those researching their ancestry in Ottawa-Carleton and Hull. Remember, they are just notes, so don't expect a perfect story. The perfect story will appear in my book.

The 35 Good Englishmen of 1816

by Karen Prytula

The story begins in the year 1800 when pioneer Philemon Wright arrived in Canada, to settle upon the north shore of the Ottawa River, then called the Grand. He was an American from Woburn, Massachusetts, U.S.A. He had come up to Canada a few times in the previous years, but this time came to stay. He brought with him his own family, his brother and brother-in-laws and their families.

For 16 years the families prospered, but were not rich. They worked for every cent they earned. They had there good times and bad times like most families. They made their living from the farming and lumber industries. Philemon had a lot of people working for him, some were lumbermen, some were farmers, servants, clerks, etc. The area in which he founded was called Wrightsville. Although this area is located in Quebec, the time frame takes place when there were no French people around. There are those who will take offense to the previous statement. Eventually French people came around because they learned that there could be work for them at Wrightsville and so they traveled up the St. Lawrence River, and up the Ottawa River, or came overland from the Quebec City and Montreal area for work. There were always French explorers, courriers des bois, defricheurs??, passing through, but there was no French settlement in the Bytown/Hull area. In fact a Frenchman today can be insulted when he learns that Hull is not a French name but a name brought over from England. Yet Hull, pronounced
‘Ull’, seems to be a very French center.

By 1816 it was time to purchase some provisions. England and the USA were not on very friendly grounds and since Philemon was loyal to the Crown, he decided to obtain his provisions from England rather than risk going to the U.S. which would have been a lot closer. So since his sons worked for him, Philemon decided to send one of them to England to purchase the much needed supplies.

Ruggles Wright
Ruggles Wright was the chosen son. It was either late 1815 or very early 1816 when Ruggles made the voyage. He may have visited the city of Kent, since that is apparently where the Wright ancestors were born. He purchased cattle, silverware and other household items, and hired 35 Englishmen (some with wives) to come to Canada and work for the Wrights. The Wrights needed help in the lumbering business and on their several farms. Since this part of Canada was very young at the time there was not a lot of people about. The odd pioneer that was around was too busy to go work for someone else, as he had land to clear, crops to plant and sow, houses and barns to build. He could have used the extra help himself. Our growing season is short here, so a lot of work has to be accomplished quickly, all of the time.
Many of the Englishmen that Ruggles Wright brought back to Canada settled in an area then called South Hull, Lower Canada. Today it’s known as Hull, Quebec, Canada.

Philemon Wright, who was Ruggles father, kept excellent records. Hundreds to be exact. He kept diaries, ledgers, and letters. Most can be seen at the Library and Archives Canada, although you cannot photocopy them. I went to the place and viewed them for myself. There are several letters written from Ruggles in England to his father back in Wrightsville. One in particular is dated April of 1816 where he lists the men he will be bringing back to Montreal, and that he has chartered the Brig Liberality to do so. Montreal is about 120 miles away from Wrightsville. He asked his father to send a boat to Montreal to pick everyone up, to continue the journey to Wrightsville.

I have attempted to compile a list of people that would have come to Canada on this brig.
I was in contact with the Whiby Literary and Philosophical Society and they were able to provide me with information on the Liberality, but sadly a passenger list does not exist. Possibly Ruggles Wright chartered another ship. There are most likely people out there that are more educated in this field than I, and so I cannot guarantee that all these Englishmen were all on the same ship, but they came over here to Wrightsville at the same time to work for the same company, Philemon Wright & Sons.. (1816/7) Most of the information comes from the Philemon Wright papers described above, and I have included references where/when the information came from elsewhere. I have also tried to research these people in case there is anyone over there in the U.K. that might have wondered whatever happened to their long lost ancestor.

My entire interest in this time frame has to do with a great grandfather x5 of mine named John Snow. My quest is to find out if he had parents and siblilngs in England that he left behind when he came to Canada with Ruggles in 1816. I have been able to find out that he came to Canada as a wheelwright from England to work for Philemon Wright and Sons.

Once here in Canada, he fulfilled his obligation to the Wrights (I think), bought some property near Wrightsville or else bordering the Ottawa River, married Barbara Allen, had a son named John Allen Snow, and then promptly drowned in the Ottawa River! (1) I have not been able to find out who John Snow’s relatives in England might have been. His wife Barbara, remarried in the late 1820's. A death record for this man has never been located by me. I don’t know if his body was ever found, and if found where it was buried. It may not have been buried in a cemetery. When the men were working in the lumber shanties during the winter months those that died were usually buried on the spot. The location of the grave was sometimes only marked with a measly wooden cross, or with a boulder, if at all.

1. John Snow

John Snow was 23 years old when he was recruited by Ruggles Wright in 1816. He was a wheelwright by trade in England, and because of that trade he was to be one of the highest paid people in the employ of Philemon Wright & Sons. House joiners and wheelwrights made the most money. John had agreed to work for two years at 45 pounds per annum.

John was granted land on Concession 5, lot 18, Township of Hull, Ottawa County, Quebec.It was a 100 acre parcel and was granted to him June 16, 1819. (2) He married Barbara Allen in 1820. She was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, USA in 1799. She arrived in Lower Canada in 1800 with her parents when she was only a one year old baby.

In 1821 John Snow was a private in the militia. It is believed that this militia did not have any muskets.

The only child born to John Snow and Barbara Allen, as far as I have been able to tell, was John Allen Snow (1823-1888).

The Eardley property was close to the Ottawa River. John Snow drowned in the Ottawa River, at a location called Chats Falls. I don’t know what year that might have been. There is the possibility that he drowned before his only son John Allen was even born.

Barabara remarried later in the 1820's. I remember reading somewhere that she moved to New York sometime before 1840. She was reported on a U.S. Census as still alive by 1880.

The son, John Allen Snow grew up to marry Catherine Bradley. She was the daughter of George Edward Clements Bradley. John Allen Snow grew up on the north side of the Ottawa River and she on the south side of the Ottawa River. John Allen Snow grew up to be a prominent land surveyor for the Dominion. He became my great grandfather x4. He and Catherine Bradley had at least eight children. They lived for a time in a nice big cut-stone home on the Aylmer Rd. Not too far away from where John Allen Snow was born. If there is anyone over there in England that would like the life information on these eight children, I would be happy to tell you their histories.

“The Alphabetical Index to the Land Grants by the Crown” says that John received 200 acres. (6) The date of his patent letter is March 4, 1824.
John Snow drowned in the Ottawa River sometime between late 1822 and 1827. (1)

2. Benjamin Simmons

Benjamin Simmons was granted 100 acres on Lot 17, Concession 5, in Hull Township, Ottawa County, Quebec. He married Gertrude Losee. She was the daughter of Joshua Losee, a United Empire Loyalist.Their children were:
Sarah Simmons - unmarried as of 1906.
Benjamin Alonzo Simmons - unmarried as of 1906. He moved to Australia.
George Simmons, who married. Elizabeth Pink
Elizabeth Simmons, who married. Arthur Smart
William Simmons, who married Anna E. Cook. William grew up to become the Mayor of South Hull from February 7, 1887, to February 1, 1892.(3)

There was a place called the Tabernacle which was built as a school, but church services were held in it at the same time. Several men took a part in building it and one of them was Benjamin Simmons. Apparently he had a brother who came to Canada as well but not at the same time as Benjamin. The brother’s name was John. He helped to build the Tabernacle, then moved to Carleton County which is south of the Ottawa River. Benjamin lived north of the Ottawa River. But when John Simmons grew old he came back to here and is buried at the Pink Cemetery.

Several men had congregated in this spot to build the Tabernacle and just when work was to begin someone realized they forgot to bring whiskey. “Not a timber could be touched until a messenger was sent over to Aylmer, or , as then called, ‘Symmes Landing,’ for a good supply. When it came the work began, and by night was all ready for the finishing touches, with every log in place”. (4)

The Tabernacle raising will probably be mentioned again since some of the other men that helped to build it were part of the ‘35 Good Englishmen’.

Benjamin Simmons was a Methodist. (5)

I found an entry in source (6) that says Benjamin actually received 200 acres, although it does not give the legal address, but I presume it was for the address mentioned at the top of this page. The date of his letter patent was March 4, 1824.

Benjamin died on January 4, 1837, so we know all of his kids were born before that year.

In 1906 William Simmons was in possession of “some valuable old papers which listed the names of those to whom lots of 100 acres were granted on June 16, 1819....” In particular, a petition which names John Snow, Benjamin Simmons, Calvin Radmore, George Routliffe, and Joseph Badham for lands in the townships of Eardley and Hull. The petition was “approved by His Grace, Governor in Chief,” (the Duke of Richmond, I believe) “in council 16th June, 1819.”
“The Committee humbly recommend that the petitioners may obtain a grant of 100 acres each in the townships of Hull or Eardley, as prayed for.
Certified
H. W. Ryland”

Another paper listed the lots in which the men selected although the exact township was not mentioned.(2)

So here we find that John Snow and Benjamin Simmons are neighbours. I wonder if they knew of each other back in England before coming to Canada?

PIC OF Mr. & Mrs. William Simmons, pg 147.

3. Calvin Radmore

Calvin Radmore was born c.1794. He was hired by Philemon Wright & Sons as an indentured Joiner and Carpenter, for the term of two years at 45 pounds per annum. See Chapter 9 “William Cook”. Most of the men employed by the Wrights did not have their own land, only because the Wrights lodged their workers in huge buildings across the country side. Some worked in the lumber shanties in the wilderness, others lived on the farms which they worked. But if you left the company, you most likely had to locate your own homestead.

Calvin Radmore was granted 100 acres on Lot 15, Range 3, in the Township of Hull, Ottawa County, Quebec, in 1819. This area was not far from the Aylmer/Deschenes crossroads. Since he received his own lands I’m guessing he was no longer in the employ of the Wrights.

Calvin married Miss Thompson, then Margaret Saunders. His children were:
George Radmore who married. Mrs. Drydon Smith. Her first name might have been Eleanor and her mainden name might have been Haworth.
Jennet Radmore, who married James Fulford.
Jane Radmore, married Peter Christie.
Eleanor Radmore, married William Patterson, then George Link.
Charlotte Radmore married Philip Radmore (a cousin of hers) - This family inherited the farm. Eventually Philip moved to the city of Ottawa and was still there in 1906.
Elizabeth Radmore married Allan Cameron.

Calvin’s brothers Emanuel, George, and Michael arrived here in 1826 from England. A sister Elizabeth came out even later.

Emanuel purchased Lot 13, Concession 5. Emanuel married Jane Moffatt. Their children were:
Elizabeth Radmore, who married Daniel Pink.
Robert Radmore, who married Jane Ferris, then Mary A. Link.
William Radmore, who married Fannie Ferris
Grace Radmore, who married James Hurdman.
Eleanor Radmore, who married Robert Ferris.
Emanuel died on January 10, 1880 at the age of 80. He is buried at Pink Cemetery.
By 1906 this property is owned by Emanuel’s son Robert. Robert owns numerous successful farms.

Calvin’s brother Michael returned to England but then came back in 1859 and settled near Montreal and died there. Michael’s son Philip came from England and settled with Calvin. Philip married Charlotte, Calvin’s daughter previously mentioned.

Calvin’s sister Elizabeth (Elizabert?) married William Cook, then William H. Thomas, then Robert Russell.

Calvin’s brother George Radmore married Sally Lusk.

Calvin Radmore was a private in the militia that had no muskets, in 1821.

By 1906 all of Calvin’s kids had passed away except for Eleanor and Charlotte, and the farm was owned by a nephew named Robert Radmore. (Son of Calvin’s brother Emanuel) (7)

Calvin Radmore is buried at Bellevue Cemetery.

Pic of Mr. & Mrs. Robert Radmore. Pg. 147.

4. George Routliffe

George was granted Lot 16, Range 4, Township of Hull, County of Ottawa, in 1819. It was a 100 acre parcel.

In 1821, George participated in the militia which had no muskets.

King Edward visited Canada when he was still Prince of Wales in 1860. The local people were very excited and made all kinds of preparations and decorations in his honour.
The Chaudiere Falls on the Ottawa River was a hindrance for floating timber down the river to Montreal. This timber was destined for England to build ships with.
Enterprising men took turns building timber slides over the Falls, over the 37 years prior to the Prince’s visit.
The Prince and his wife took a ride down one of these timber slides, on some sort of a raft.
“George Routliffe was the pilot who ran the timber raft on which the Prince had made his trip through the Slide, at the Chaudiere....”

George had a small farm. It bordered the farm of John Allen who is the father of my great grandmother Barbara Allen, who married John Snow.

George Routliffe married Alidia Prentiss. Their children were:
Mary Routliffe, who married Ruggles Allen. Ruggles is my great granduncle x4. He was born here in Canada in 1811. Although I have not really researched this couple I have stumbled across information on them while researching other family members, so I’ll tell you what I know here.
Mary was born in 1822 in Canada and married Ruggles in 1837.(9) She was pretty young. They had at least 12 children. If anyone wants their histories just let me know and I’ll tell you all about them. Ruggles died May 10 1891, and Mary died March 31, 1899. Both are buried at Bellevue Cemetery.
William Routliffe, who married Elizabeth Babb
James Routliffe, who married. Melissa Spearman - her dad was the first blacksmith in Aylmer.
Richard Routliffe, who married Phoebe Badham. Phoebe’s father was Joseph Badham. Joseph and George Routliffe journeyed to this country from England together.
Arabelle Routliffe, who married John Irish.
Sarah Routliffe, who married Edmond Bartlett.
Victoria Routliffe, who married George Reid.
Albert Routliffe, who married Arabella Robinson
Valentine Routliffe (twin), who married Hugh McCagg
Valory Routliffe (twin), who married Irene Simmons.
I have found other records that says Valentine was a male and married a Sarah J. Simmons. (8). So there may be some mix-up with this set of twins.
Alice Routliffe, who married Cornelius McCagg - brother of Hugh previously mentioned.
daughter - died young
Elizabeth Routliffe, who married Edward Ryan.
Deborah Routliffe, who married Mr. Phillip Chugg.
George Routliffe, who married. Amelia Babb

With all these children you can understand why George participated with the other men to build the Tabernacle in 1830, and why he needed the whiskey!

By 1906 all of the daughters had passed away, yet all the sons were still alive.

5. Joseph Badham

Joseph was granted 100 acres on Lot 15, Concession 6, Hull Township, Ottawa County, Quebec, in 1819. “Pioneers of the Upper...” says his lot was 15 on page 38, and on page 295 it says he was on lot 16.

In 1821, Joseph Badham was a militiaman without a musket.

Joseph Badham married Phoebe Holt. Their children were :
Enoch Badham.
Elizabeth Badham, who married a Mr. Moore
William Badham, who married a Miss Richards.
Joseph Badham, who married a Liza Ann Craig. She died October 26, 1888, at the age of 60. She is buried at Bellevue Cemetery.
Phoebe Badham married Richard Routliffe. Richard was the son of George Routliffe previously mentioned.
George Badham, who married the widow Fanner and went to the States.

In 1906 the farm was no longer in the family.

However, I am almost certain that these 5 men traveled to Canada together, possibly aboard a ship named Liberality. Perhaps others researching anyone of these five men might have already established the ship that sailed from England, and I just haven’t found out yet.

I came across an original letter at the Library and Archives Canada, Item #610, dated March 21 1816 which states Charles Thomas was in the husbandry line. Philemon Wright & Sons were looking for good farmers.

After Charles arrival I have sort of lost track of him. During the next 80 years the name Charles Thomas was common and I can’t be certain of him. I have found a record that says he arrived in 1818. However, I have learned that he did not stay long in this area and moved to Renfrew, Ontario.

7. Francis Howell

Francis Howell’s name is also mentioned as someone who selected a lot in these ancient papers that were once in the possession of William Simmons, although no lot or concession # is named.

Without looking too hard this was all I could find on this man. He may have went to Renfrew as well, since there was probably lots of work in the lumber shanties.

8. John Cook

John Cook selected lot 18, Concession 5. He probably shared it with John Snow, and William Cook. William was John Cook’s brother.

John Cook married Georgina Rule (Rule). Their children were:
William Cook, who married Minerva E. A. Simmons.
John Cook, who married Amelia Balk. John and Amelia are buried at Bellevue Cemetery. Her name is spelled Baulke on her headstone. Her life spanned the years1863-1941. John was born in 1851 and he died in 1916. They had at least two sons; Clifford Albert Cook 1905-1907, and John Arthur Ruel Cook 1892-1918.
Arthur Cook, who married Hannah Allen. Hannah Allen is my great grandaunt x4. Hannah was born in Hull, Quebec in 1816. She died in 1847.
Isabelle Cook, who married John Woodburn. They also lived on the same lot as John Cook. They had at least eight children. Their son Horatius was drowned in the Gatineau River.
Anna Cook, who married William Simmons
Mary Cook, who married John McCallum, then John Mee, then Charles Newman.
Grace Cook, who married Thomas Rogers, then James McConnell, then Alfred Merrifield.
Eleanor Cook, who married James Miller.

In 1830, John helped to erect the Tabernacle once the whiskey arrived.

9. William Cook

I was at the Library and Archives and came across this original letter, which I have tried to transcribe below. It was extremely hard to read because of the writing style, the spelling of the day, and lack of grammar. They wrote sentences that would last an entire page! Very hard to decipher the thought, or point the writer was trying to get across.

Letter # 637 from Westleigh March 25, 1816 Sir, Upon the receipt of yours of 20th inst. I immediately set about executing your commission, and I hope to your satisfaction; but the notice is so very short that I fear I shall not have it in my power to procure the people wanted for Mr. Racey and Davidson as there is but one small tract in this part of the country where the cultivation of Hops is understood, and also it is difficult to persuade a woman to venture out. For you I have engaged as follows:

John beals? Aged 26 as Farm Labourers
William Cooke aged 21
Hugh Ackland
Roger Cann
George Ratcliffe
John Rogers
Joseph Saunders
James Webby - you engaged yourself when here
William Longman - and can do mason work
William Tracey - gardener

Thomas Clatworthy aged 25 Labour - can make brick
Mary Clatworty his wife engages as Dairy Woman, no wages fixed but whatever is usually given in the country.

All the above Laborers and gardeners engage for two years at 35 pounds per annum and of both them and the Tradesmen I have received from their late masters very good characters but as their masters in general are as great strangers to me as the men I can vouch no further.

For. Mr. Campbell, I have engaged also for 2 years John Moore as gardener aged 20 he is recommended to me as gardener in which capacity he was for some years but latterly he has learned the Trade of Joiner and Carpenter in which situations he wished to go with you but I had before engaged Calvin Radmore. His wages 36 pds. Per annym

I cannot get a man and wife but for the other man for Mr. Campbell viz to manager a Farm. If the wife is not absolutely necessary, they leave strongly to recommend Alexander Copp, aged 32 as a fit person for the place, he will pay his own passage but his wife cannot at present go with him being large with child. He is Son of a respectable farmer who is reduced by mis-fortune. His brother James also I believe goes with him to take his chance of employ he is also a very proper man a good husband man and master. If neither of these young men suit you or Mr. Campbell they may some of your Friend.

To you I recommend Benjamin Simmonds who also will pay his own passage but wishes to go into your employ but would not now engage himself for a certain term. He has been my Head Servant for three years, is honest , Sober, Careful and Industrious and very fit to manage a Farm. He is a superior workman, I am sorry to lose him and had engaged him for the next year but as he seemed so bent on going I gave him leave. I believe several intend going out passengers in the same vessel, but I know nothing of —.

I have given Alexander Copp and Benj. Simmons each a letter of the commendation to you and I sincerely hope that all those you employ will answer your expectaions and be a credit to themselves and their country.

As to any security they can give you I can devise none but from their characters and their own interest to go into your employ , for as they are mostly strangers...----They would not hear being bound one for another. You need not keep them at Quebec longer than possible and keep them on board as much as you can. I cannot think of making any charge to you as the actual expence has been so very trifling. From John Woodward.

So, now we know William Cook was born c.1795, and he agreed to work for the Wrights for 2 years at 35 pounds per annum.

In 1819 William received his own land on lot 18, Concession 5, Hull Township, Ottawa County, Quebec. This tells me that he probably left the employ of Philemon Wright and Sons.

He married Elizabeth Radmore. They had no children together.

In 1830, William participated in building the Tabernacle.

10. Richard Austin

Richard Austin took a lot along the Gatineau River. In 1906 the International Cement Works occupied the land just to the east of his land. These lands were at the edge of the City of Hull.

Richard was a militiaman without a musket in 1821.

No other information on this man leaps out at me. There is a good chance he moved away from the area, possibly to the Ontario side of the river.

11. John Rogers

John Rogers took an indentured position as a husbandryman with Philemon Wright and Sons for the term of two years at the rate of 35 pounds per annum.

He was granted his own land along the Mountain Road, but it is no longer in the family.
John didn’t have any children, and was probably not married when he left his farm to John Haworth to take care of for him. John Rogers didn’t want to farm it anymore and was going away for awhile. He told Mr. Haworth to use it as if it were his own, but on one condition. Mr. Haworth was not to cut down the huge pine tree that was on the property because John Rogers wanted to use it for his coffin one day. Well, John Rogers went over to Aylmer, and fell in the Ottawa River and drowned! The tree was not chopped down. But later, so many people came by to claim that they were a lost brother of John Rogers, that John would have had too many brothers! So John Haworth kept the farm, coffin-tree, and all of John Rogers other belongings.

Letter # 610 says John was into Husbandry during his life in England.

12. John Brellion

John Brellion actually used the surname of Brill. I think that it might Brill in the letter rather than Beals that I interpreted. He was granted Lot 20, Range 6 in Hull Township, Ottawa County, Quebec, in 1819.

John Brill tired of his lot as did his acquaintance John Rogers. John Brill decided to give his land to Ambrose Richards a shoe maker, in exchange for a new pair of boots. Eventually Ambrose sold the land for $40,000 to a mining company!

My guess is that John moved elsewhere, possibly to Ontario.

13. James Cleton

I have not come across any information on him at all.

14. John Framholt

Nothing further is known of him either.

15. Francis Link

Francis Link’s headstone says he was from Herefordshire, England and died at the age of 62 years. Since he died in 1853, that would put him born c.1791.

Francis Link came from England recruited by Ruggles Wright. Once here, he married Jane Shouldice and they raised their family in Chelsea, Quebec. Their children were :

Thomas Link, who married Jane Moffat.
Crawford Link, who married Elizabeth Wellington. He was born c1821 and died in 1881. She died in 1878.
Mary Link, who married Seth Cates.
Francis Link, who married Mary Barton.
Susanna Link, unmarried.
George Link, who married Mrs. Wm. Peterson.
Nicholas Link, who married Anna Hudson.
Jane Link, who married John Hudson (brother of Anna previously mentioned).
John Link, who drowned.

Francis Link died April 1, 1853. He is buried in the Old Chelsea Protestant Cemetery. Crawford Link and his wife Elizabeth Wellington are there as well.

16. William Jones

William Jones was a 24 year old blacksmith in 1816. That would put him born c.1792. He agreed to work for Philemon Wright & Sons for two years for 45 pounds per annum.

Nothing more is known of this man at this time. Perhaps he removed to Ontario.

17. William Warnacott
William Warnacott was a 25 year old tailor and agreed to work for Philemon Wright & Sons for two years at the rate of 45 pounds per annum. Perhaps I transcribed the surname incorrectly, for I cannot find any information on this man.

18. Hugh Ackland
Hugh was a labourer and agreed to work for Philemon Wright & Sons for a period of two years at a rate of 35 pounds per annum. No more is known of him.

19. Roger Cann
Roger Cann agreed to work for Philemon Wright & Sons for a period of 2 years at the rate of 35 pounds per annum, starting in 1816. Yet, another name I can’t find information on.

20. Joseph Saunders
21. James Webby
22. William Longman
23. William Tracey
24. Thomas and Mary Clotworthy
25. John Moore
25. Alexander Copp
I cannot find any further information on these 9 people. Maybe they did not take the journey at the last minute?

26. Wilson must be another of the young men who Ruggles recruited because I found a letter written from a Mr. Wilson to Ruggles Wright telling Wright that it was a sad morning in the house, the day the son parted ‘poor fellow he took it much to heart’. It was written Mar 17, 1816. Wilson, brought the cow and the bull and the calf to Oxford as referred to in Courtney C. J. Bond’s book, “Hurling Down the Pine”. Once at Oxford he wrote a letter dated March 21 saying it would be about another 4 days, before he gets to the ship.

In 1827 a James Wilson was a leader in the Methodist Church. And as we know by now there was at least one other Methodist that made the voyage from England.
I found mention that a James Wilson married a Christianna Watson.
I found mention that a James Wilson was present at the building of the Tabernacle in 1830. He was of course, around other men that had been recruited by Ruggles Wright.
In 1860, I find a James Wilson in attendance at the opening of the Masonic Lodge in Aylmer.
I have no reason to believe that all of these facts are not of the same man. In other words I feel confident that a James Wilson made the voyage from England to here, and worked for Philemon Wright. He may have stayed in his employ for a long time, managing one of his farms.

Below are other surnames I found in the letters, but I don’t know if they were hired by Philemon Wright and Sons:

Merrick
Champion
Cox
John Munk

More than once I ran across letters from Philemon Wright here in Canada addressed to his son Ruggles in England. The address on the letter destined for England was:

3 Crown Court
Thread Needle Street
London, England.

That is where Ruggles was staying until he gathered his men and supplies. Was this a hotel? The street has an interesting name.

Letter # 624 - March 23, 1816 From Ruggles Wright to his father Philemon Wright. Dear Father, I have the pleasure of writing to you several times and am much disappointed at not receiving any of yours I have ordered a quantity of goods here as all from Sheffied they go out in the Alexander from Liverpool and the Daries from Land and Thare with a good deal of trouble and — purchases two cause (calfs) and caus (cows) and a boal (bull) and expact to git from 20 to 30 men of different trades and farmers to go out with me in the Darris try and have the boats down at least by the 5th of May to take the goods up and the men as it will be a great expense to kick —man at Quebec and should recommend sending the boats down in time that they may not wait there I have chartered the Brig Union, she is at least 340 tons —at Quebec. She is bound to take 50.

Ruggles says he chartered the Brig Liberality to take 50 barrels of pottash, and between 20 and 30 lads.

In the above letter he was instructing his father to meet him at Montreal with boats to take the supplies and men from Montreal to their little colony on the Ottawa River., via the St. Lawrence River, and then the Ottawa River. The Liberality would drop them off at Quebec City, and they would get on the Brig Union to get to Montreal.

The next letter to be read is #641. Just thought I should mention that somewhere in case I ever get back to Library and Archives Canada. I doubt it though.

Ruggles Wright just happens to be related to me as well. He is my first cousin 6x removed. It’s just a little ironic that my cousin would recruit a man that would become my great grandfather x5. John Snow married Ruggles cousin, Barbara Allen. So Barbara Allen would have been a cousin of mine had she never met John Snow. But since she did meet and marry him, and had a son, she became a great grandfather of mine.

Sources:
(1) Hurling Down the Pine by Courtney Bond.
(2) Pioneers of the Upper Ottawa and The Humours of the Valley, by Anson A. Gard, 1906. This is a rare book now, but I have a reprinted copy. Pg. 38.
(3) ditto, pg. 42.
(4) ditto, pg. 55
(5) ditto, pg. 98
(6) Alphabetical Index to the Land Grants by the Crown in the Province of Quebec 1763-1890, Quebec Family History Society, pg. 1830.
(7) Pioneers of the Upper Ottawa and The Humours of the Valley, by Anson A. Gard, 1906. This is a rare book now, but I have a reprinted copy. Pg. 340
(8) ditto, pg. 62.
(9) ditto, pg. 344
(10) Where Rivers Meet: An Illustrated History of Ottawa, Courtney C. J. Bond., pictures of the Prince of Wales going over the timber slide, and of the Chaudiere Falls before the Slide was built.

If you require any further information let me know and I’ll see what I can dig up.
Or better still, if you can add to this information I would appreciate hearing from you at karenprytula33@gmail.com